Third-ranked Blackman (9-1) is the top seed in Quadrant 1 of the Class 6A playoffs after going 6-0 in District 7-AAA. It’s Blackman’s first undefeated 7-AAA season. The Blaze host eighth-seeded Cane Ridge (5-5) at 7 p.m. Friday at The Inferno in the first round.

Blackman will play at home throughout the playoffs. Its lone road game would be the Class 6A championship game at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.

Blackman’s run game has been dominant at times, averaging 265.3 yards a game. That success has started with Davidson. Davidson is a physical back who has not been afraid to run over defenders. There was the Week 0 game when he ran over an Oakland defender. And a week later he dragged a Brentwood defender the final 10 yards into the end zone.

He’s also shown speed to get away from the defense.

“Charlie has always been a gifted runner,” Shadowens said. “He just had to do things better without the ball with pass protection assignments.

“He’s gotten more dependable. I’ve seen him grow as a football player, grow as a young man to a kid we depend on. We kind of saw that start to snowball halfway through the year.”

Davidson said his success last year in the playoffs isn’t just him. He said his teammates have also stepped up in big games.

“I think everyone at Blackman — everyone — shows up when it’s a big game,” Davidson said. “When it’s a big game and our number is called, we know we are going to show up.”

Davidson said the Blaze’s senior-dominated lineup is well aware of the task at hand. After reaching the semifinals a year ago, they are ready to get a chance to take that next step.

“Our eyes are back on the goal,” Davidson said. “We haven’t really lost focus, we’re just closer to our goal.

“We’re sharpening a few things and getting ready.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.